"Safe" Fuel Tanks

[stevemid]

There was a helicopter crash recently in Wollengong that killed four people. Today it was reported that the operator had been advised to replace the helo's , aluminium fuel tanks with the "safer" bladder style tanks but had not done so.

It surprised me that bladder style fuel tanks would be considered safer that aluminium.

Steve

[Tumbo59]

I work in the aviation industry as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer(Rotary Wing) and can say that an alloy fuel tank is much more likely to rupture if deformed while the bladder type tanks are less likely to rupture if deformed. The bladder type tanks are quite strong and will withstand some deformation before bursting. Both types of tanks can be penetrated by sharp objects/edges etc but bladder types are likely to leak less from a penetration.

Aviation Turbine Fuel is far more difficult to ignite than say unleaded and it is usually fumes/vapors that ignite and they intern ignite the liquid in the tank/spillage.